Dhaka:Bangladeshis are among nationals from 29 countries who have been trafficked into Russian armed forces, as per a United Nations inquiry. The report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine highlights recruitment through deception or coercion, submitted to the United Nations General Assembly at its 81st session.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Commission's report presents compelling evidence of trafficking orchestrated by Russian authorities in collaboration with agents or agencies operating globally. Nationals from countries including Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, and others were reportedly recruited under false pretenses.
The report, shared one week after its submission to the UN, identifies a pattern of recruiting foreign nationals since 2024. Those recruited were pressured into quick travel arrangements, facilitated by agents who managed visas, tickets, and accommodations. Various visa types were processed depending on local requirements, including business visas for Bangladeshis and tourist visas for Kenyans.
Recruits from countries such as the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru traveled without visas, misled into believing they were on tourist trips. Upon arrival in Russia, they were coerced into signing contracts in Russian, with their phones and passports confiscated, and were forced into military service rather than the promised civilian jobs.
The report indicates that these recruits were deployed to Ukraine's frontlines, with many facing dangerous assignments, leading to deaths and disappearances. The psychological impact on the families of these individuals has been profound, as they continue to search for their loved ones. However, the report does not detail the number of Bangladeshis affected or clarify if all foreign nationals in the Russian armed forces were trafficked.
Source United News of Bangladesh